Moderated
Umm… Rupert Murdoch doesn’t own Netflix.
I just saw that Netflix does not have the Criterion version of Senso (amongst other Criterion’s they don’t have), and read how much people on Netflix were complaining about it, and was wondering how many of you will check out supplemental DVDs from Netflix. I know that I never do, but perhaps this is part of the reason they don’t feel justified in getting the expensive Criterion multi-disc versions, if they are paying extra for discs that few people ever check out.
Just curious.
That isn’t the new Criterion? How weird. It was save for so long and came out on Netflix at about the same time the Criterion DVD was released. I wonder if they timed that one on purpose only to send people some budget release. I wondered why the cover just looked like an old poster.
I get all my Criterion’s from the library, and if they don’t have it I request it. :)
I just had them buy ‘Science Is Fiction: 23 Films by Jean Painlevé’ for me. This way I also always get the supplemental DVDs also.
I’m pretty impressed by Netflix’s recent trend of releasing great copies of movies not on DVD as instant watch. That upped my respect for them, a lot. I can almost forgive the removal of the friends feature.
Search on Cinemageddon for Netflix and you end up with 92 results. That’s 92 movies where a Netflix rip was provided as either an upgrade to an inferior rip or something entirely not available yet.
I just recently found this on Netflix. Finally, I can watch it in something that doesn’t look like a VHS that’s been wound back together a dozen times!
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Short_Cut_to_Hell/70154391
Netflix did state that their goal was to put smaller video rental stores out of business, which it seems like they are succeeding in doing.
I try to get films from the library whenever possible, but 1.) A LOT of the films at my school library are only available to watch IN the library, which is annoying as hell and the public library mainly caters to children and PBS specials; 2.) the video store near where I live only carries DVDs of the newest crap available.
So, it seems like unless you live in an area where there is a store or library that carries a wide number of films that are available for check out or you illegally download everything you watch (which I suppose is possible and obviously a problem) then Netflix is one of the best options.
“Netflix did state that their goal was to put smaller video rental stores out of business, which it seems like they are succeeding in doing.”
For the most part, Blockbuster had already put local video stores out of business.
Daniel ^ “That isn’t the new Criterion?”
I’m not 100% positive because I never got it from them, but that is what most of the member reviews say. Typically, if it doesn’t have the Criterion cover as the picture, then it is not Criterion. But that timing was pretty strange with the release of the Criterion edition.
Clarice ^ “public library mainly caters to children and PBS specials”
Really? I don’t live in a particularly large city (about 100,000), but we have a decent selection at the library. A lot of it is older, more popular films, but between that and their modest indie and foreign section, I’ve made a list of about 200 things I want from there, plus there’s always new stuff coming in.
But that said, they do have an astonishing number of PBS/A&E/British productions. Who is checking this stuff out?
To Matt: What is great is that the Blockbuster by where I lived went out of business while the 2 local video stores by it are still thriving.
Yeah, Chris, I wish the same could be said for here. We had a couple of fantastic local video stores that were put of business when Blockbuster came in. Now all of the local Blockbusters have closed, so we’re left with either Netflix or kiosks.
“Netflix did state that their goal was to put smaller video rental stores out of business, which it seems like they are succeeding in doing.”
I’d like a source on that. I’m not doubting it’s veracity but I want to see the context to see what Netflix’s purposes behind saying it was. Mission statement to investors, an off-hand remark about where they see the company going, an acknowledgment of effect?
—DiB
My only gripe is their lack of releases from Vanguard Cinema….
Come on, I really really wanna see Armless!
This is a really stupid reason, and I don’t know if it’s been said already, but…
What keeps me paying for home video releases, specifically blu-rays, is the amount of supplements we get with them. Today, you could honestly download a 7gb copy of a film that is near identical to the blu-ray. They also have audio packs that you can download online to mimic the sound of the blu-ray.
What separates the two for me is the supplements. Things like commentaries, mini-docs on how the film was made, etc. Take, for example, Criterion. Criterion gives out a lot of supplements, most of the time. Netflix completely cancels that out when it gives you JUST the movie in mediocre quality. Even the HD is mediocre.
The only good thing, in my opinion, is the extensive selection. I live in Canada, and the selection here is TERRIBLE. From what I hear, though, America’s selection is jaw-dropping. That would be the only alluring thing about Netflix to me – obscure films that you can’t download could be found on it.
But without the supplements, with mediocre quality, and a small selection, I don’t enjoy Netflix.
Who do you think Netflix are trying to please?
Customers or Shareholders?
1 BD at a time + streaming went up from $11.98 to $17.98. Wowzers. 2nd huge price increase in less than a year.
I’ll likely be dropping the streaming service once this latest increase kicks in and going back to just discs. The streaming offering does not seem to be an improving product, and it’s just not worth $100/year or so imo (I can get 2 DVDs a week from Redbox for essentially the same price).
Redbox is only good for new mainstream releases, no? At least, the ones I see at grocery stores.
Increasing the price at a time when they’re decreasing selection is pretty silly. I think we’re seeing the ‘Undercut everyone until the competition dies, then jack up the price’ mindset of big chains like Walmart. If that’s true, Netflix will start seeing more streaming competition than just Hulu soon.
I stream on 360 so I do a lot of browsing on that device, but the selection has been laughably bad lately. For foreign films, it recommended me Babe:Pig in the City and Full Metal Jacket. Wut?
“Redbox is only good for new mainstream releases, no?”
Yeah, but what is offered by Netflix streaming is still very limited and constantly in flux (I have as many as 30 titles drop out of my “instant” queue, I think), so it doesn’t add much value to the physical disc service (which am I not planning on getting rid of) . . . at least not for me.
If you’re dissatisfied with Netflix, try Facets Multimedia. I know this may seem like shameless self-promotion since i’m an employee there. But trust me, as a fellow cinephile and dissatisfied Netflix customer, I recommend giving Facets a try.
Why? Here is why:
Facets offers a selection of over 42,000 titles. Including out of print and imports. We also carry films in VHS format. I know it’s pretty much obsolete now, but a lot of rare and hard to find films are only available in that format. Our selection is expansive and very eclectic. You name it, and we’ll probably have it. We have numerous Criterion DVDs, and DVDs released through Facets. Browse through our selections, I’m sure you’ll find what you’re looking for.
These are our memberships:
4 movies at a time unlimited for $23.99 a month (most popular)
2 movies at a time unlimited for $15.99 a month
1 movie at a time unlimited for $8.99 a month
4 movies at a time unlimited for six months for $125
4 movies at a time unlimited for 3 months for $70
4 movies at a time unlimited for a full year for $250
1 movie at a time unlimited for a full year for $90
Here is the link to Facets page.
http://www.facetsmovies.com
Here is an article about Facets. It provides a little more insight into who we are and what we do.
http://newcityfilm.com/2011/06/27/cinephiles-gem-facets-multimedia-crafts-an-editorial-alternative-to-netflix/
Starz in ending their streaming deal with Netflix, so if you have anything in your queue that will be effected, you might want to watch it soon.
From the LA Times:
“Premium cable network Starz Entertainment will end its deal to provide movies to Netflix, a surprise decision that will deprive the popular online video service of its most valuable source of recently released movies.
Analysts had said that if Starz were to renew its agreement, which expires in February 2012, it could have been worth as much as $300 million to John Malone’s Liberty Media-owned network.
However, executives at Starz apparently concluded that they would lose even more money by giving consumers a reason to subscribe to Netflix instead of the cable channel.
“This decision is a result of our strategy to protect the premium nature of our brand by preserving the appropriate pricing and packaging of our exclusive and highly valuable content,” Starz said in a statement Thursday. “With our current studio rights and growing original programming presence, the network is in an excellent position to evaluate new opportunities and expand its overall business.”
Starz, which controls pay-cable rights to movies from Walt Disney Studios and Sony Pictures, signed its current agreement with Netflix in 2008. At that time, online video was watched by only a small number of tech-savvy young people and the estimated $30 million per year the cable network received was seen as new revenue that would have little impact on its traditional television business.
But Netflix now has 25 million subscribers, the majority of whom watch video online through a variety of devices, including Internet-connected TVs, tablets and smartphones. By providing recently released hit movies from Disney and Sony such as “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Karate Kid,” Starz has helped to fuel that growth.
The only other recently released movies Netflix gets for its streaming service come from Paramount Pictures, Lionsgate and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer via cable channel Epix. HBO, which has offerings from 20th Century Fox, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros., has refused to partner with Netflix.
Starz typically costs about $15 a month for cable and satellite television subscribers, while Netflix streaming costs only $8 a month and doesn’t require a pay television subscription.
The move comes two months after Sony movies disappeared from Netflix due to a provision in its deal with Starz. However, people close to the matter had said at the time that they expected Sony movies to return to Netflix soon. With Starz choosing not to renew with Netflix, that will now be a moot point.
The Starz development came on the same day that Netflix implemented a previously announced, controversial price increase that eliminates hybrid plans and charges a minimum of $8 a month to receive DVDs through the mail and $8 a month for online video.
The latter service is likely to become less valuable in the eyes of consumers with the disappearance of Starz’s movies and original TV series such as “Camelot.”
Starz earlier this year implemented a 90-day delay from the premiere of original series episodes until they became available on Netflix, the first sign that it was reconsidering the value of the partnership.
Netflix stock plunged 8% in after-hours trading Thursday on the news, while Liberty Media stock was flat."
i have yet to recieve a notice that the price is going up
did they change their minds?
Nope, you should see it your next billing.
don’t they have to give you at least an email heads up?
I am pretty sure they have to give you notice at least a month before.
here is what it says on my account:
Starting on Sep 19, 2011, you will begin the Unlimited Streaming plan with unlimited time to watch instantly.
Membership fees are billed at the beginning of each period.
The regular price of the Unlimited Streaming plan is $7.99 (plus any applicable tax).
Ah—OK, so you’ve got just the streaming without physical discs, then? In that case I don’t think there’s a change. Mine’s going up from $23.99 to $27.98.
Rich Uncle Skeleton
OH MY GOD.
Their OBSESSION with renting out those crappy DVD editions from WestLake Entertainment.
Movies with perfectly fine editions: THE GENERAL, STREET ANGEL, FAUST, HIS GIRL FRIDAY, and countless more
are instead replaced with WestLake editions, it’s ridiculous.
And the worst part, they show the covers of the restored/deluxe editions. Very misleading.
Instant watching is so-so. Though I love it for TV Seasons. Am right now watching through “30 Rock” from the beginning. So much more convenient than tie-ing up my queue for 2 weeks. Especially for seasons not available on Hulu.
Though some of the stuff they don’t have is surprising. It’s readily available on DVD and would certainly have more of a viewing audience than some of the stuff they rent.